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Summary of Changes to the 2016 Laws of the Game: the Official Soccer Rules

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have published the latest changes to the 2016/2017 Laws of the Game, the official rules for soccer around the world. The ultimate aim of revising the LOTG is "...to increase the universality of the Laws by making them easily understood so football throughout the world benefits from consistent interpretation and application."

Overall, more than 10,000 words have been removed from the Law and Interpretations sections. The major areas of change include:

A more simple structure: Law and Interpretation have been combined - all information for each Law is now in the same place and not in 2 different parts of the Law book

Updated titles: some of the Laws have been renamed to reflect the modern game; e.g. Law 6 -­‐ The Assistant Referees has become The Other Match Officials

Language and phraseology: the vocabulary has been reduced, unnecessary words and repetitions have been removed, contradictions have been resolved

Updated content: many changes were needed for the Laws to be able to deal with modern football; e.g. use of synthetic/artificial surfaces, drinks breaks for health reasons in hot weather

Summary of Law Changes

Law 1: The Field of Play

Logos/emblems of FAs, competitions etc... are allowed on corner flags (but no advertising)

LAW 2: THE BALL

No changes

LAW 3: THE Players

A match may not start/continue if a team has fewer than 7 players Substitutes may take a restart but must first step onto the field

Law 5 now allows the referee to send a player off before the kick-off (from the pre-match inspection of the field of play onwards) and in terms of the player being replaced, a player sent off:

before the team list has been submitted -­ can not appear on team list in any capacity

after team list submitted but before kick-off — can be replaced by named substitute (who can not be replaced; team may still make full number of substitutions as is the current Law)

after the kick-off - can not be replaced

Direct FK (or penalty) if a substitute/team official/sent off player interferes with play

If something/someone (other than a player) touches a ball going into the goal, the referee can award the goal if the ball goes in the goal and the touch had no impact on the defenders (unless in opponents’ goal)

If a goal is scored with an extra person on the field and referee has restarted play, the goal stands and the match continues

LAW 4: THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT

Any tape or other material on/covering socks must be same color as the sock (photos below show what will no longer be permitted)

A player losing footwear or shinguard accidentally can play on until next stoppage

Electronic communication with substitutes is forbidden

Player can return during play after changing/correcting equipment, once equipment has been checked (by referee, 4th official, AR or AAR) and referee signals

Undershorts must be color of shorts or hem; team must all wear same color

Player on left may wear black or light green undershorts/tights but the whole team must wear same color:

LAW 5: The referee

Clear statement about referee’s opinion and discretion

Reference to the ‘spirit of the game’

Referee can not change a decision once play has restarted or the referee has left the field of play at the end of the half

If several offences occur at the same time the most serious is punished. Order of seriousness:

Disciplinary sanction (RC more serious than YC etc…)

Direct FK more serious than Indirect FK

Physical offense (foul) more serious than non-­‐physical (handball)

Tactical impact

Referee can ‘send off’ a player from pre­‐match pitch inspection, onwards (see Law 3)

Referee can only use RC + YC after entering the field of play at the start of the match

Player injured by RC/YC foul can be quickly assessed/treated and stay on field (detailed advice in Practical Guidelines section)

Reference to equipment referees can and cannot use

Diagrams of referee signals included

LAW 6: THE Other Match Officials

More details about the usual duties of the assistants, AARs and 4th official

If AARs have been appointed, at a penalty kick the AR takes a position in line with the penalty mark (ball) as this is the offside line

Diagrams of assistant referee and AAR signals included

LAW 7: The Duration of the Match

More reasons for additional time (e.g. medical, drinks, breaks)

LAW 8: The Start and Restart of Play

All restarts included (previously only kick-­‐off and dropped ball were mentioned)

Ball must clearly move to be in play for all kicked restarts

Referee can not 'manufacture' outcome of a dropped ball

Ball can be kicked in any direction at kick­‐off:

Referees must make sure that players are in their own half as now there is no need for one to be in the opposing half

LAW 9: The Ball in and out of Play

If a ball rebounds off any match official, it is in play unless it wholly passes over the boundary line (this includes AARs)

Law 10: Determining the Outcome of a Match

Kicks from the penalty mark:

Referee will toss a coin to choose the goal (unless there are weather, field of play, safety considerations etc…)

Coin will be tossed a 2nd time to determine who takes the first kick

Goalkeeper can be replaced at any time

Player temporarily off the field (e.g. injured) at the final whistle can take part

Both teams must have same number of players before and during the kicks

Referee does not need to know the names/numbers or the order of kickers

A kick is over/completed when it goes over a boundary line or stops moving (including held by GK) (See Law 14)

Kicks are not delayed if a player leaves the field; if the player is not back in time their kick is forfeited (missed)

Law 11: Offside

Halfway line 'neutral' for offside; player must be in opponents' half

Arms of all players (including goalkeepers) are not considered when judging offside position

Offside position, not offense, judged at the moment the ball is played

Offside FK is always taken where the offside offense occurs (even in own half)

Interfering with an opponent after a save or rebound is an offense

A defender off the field is only 'active' until play stops or the defending team clears the ball away from their penalty area towards the halfway line

Same for attacker returning; before that the player’s point of return to the field of play is the offside position

If a goal is scored, an attacking player in the goal can be penalised for an offside offence

Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct

If a foul involves contact it is always a direct FK

If the referee plays advantage for a RC offence and the offending player then gets involved in play it is an IDFK

Change of wording for handball so that not every handball is a YC -- YC for handball now linked to stopping/interfering with a promising attack (like other fouls)

Attempted violent conduct is a RC, even if no contact

Striking on head/face when not challenging an opponent is a RC unless the contact is minimal/negligible

Offense on the field against substitutes, team officials, match officials etc... is now a direct FK

Foul off the field as part of normal play will be penalised with a direct FK on the boundary line at the point nearest to the offence (penalty kick if in offender’s own penalty area)

Some DOGSO offences in the penalty area are now punished with a YC.

RC remains for: handball, holding, pulling, pushing, not attempting or no possibility to play the ball

New Wording:

"Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-­‐scoring opportunity by a deliberate handball offence the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs.

Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-­‐scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned unless:

The offence is holding, pulling or pushing or

The offending player does not attempt to play the ball or there is no possibility for the player making the challenge to play the ball or

The offence is one which is punishable by a red card wherever it occurs on the field of play (e.g. serious foul play, violent conduct etc..)

In all the above circumstances the player is sent off."

Law 13: Free Kicks

Clarification of the difference between 'stopping' a FK being taken and 'intercepting' the ball after FK has been taken

Ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves

Law 14: The Penalty Kick

Clear statement of when a PK is over/completed

Some offences are always an IDFK whether or not the PK results in a goal:

Indirect FK if wrong player deliberately takes the penalty (+ YC to player who took the kick)

Indirect FK if ball kicked backwards

If 'illegal' feinting occurs it is always an indirect FK (and YC to the kicker)

If the GK infringes and the PK is missed/re-‐taken the GK will now receive a YC

Law 15: The Throw-In

New wording makes it clear that the ball must be thrown with both hands

Clarification of action to be taken when a player moves within 2m (2 yds) of the throw-‐in and interferes

Law 16: The Goal Kick

The ball must be stationary! (current Law does not require this!)

If a goal kick is kicked into the kicker’s own goal it is a corner kick to opponents

An opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken can not play the ball until touched by another player

Law 17: The Corner Kick

If a corner kick is kicked into the kicker’s own goal it is a corner kick to opponents

That's it for the summary of the 2016/2017 changes! Be sure to pickup your digital copy of the 2016/2017 Laws of the Game from us! All these changes go into effect on June 1, 2016.

Share with your referee buddies and let players know of these significant updates coming to the game!

"Offside FK is always taken where the offside offense occurs (even in own half)" Didn't think you could possibly be offside in your own half.

Ref

Of course you can, if you were in an offside position when ball played by your teammate, then you retreat to your own half and are involved in play by receiving the ball.

Flacus

Does it mean that the resulting kick from the offside infraction is to be taken from the spot where the ball was played to the offside player?

Aj Hassan

If the attacker is retreating to the ball played to him from an offside position, and received it in his own half, the referee has to wait til participation is determined, which might end up being in his own half

Simon Cavenagh

Clearly you don't understand the application of the offside law.

Jeff

The offense is playing the ball to a player in an offside position. You can only be in an offside position in the attacking half of the field but you can play the ball to player in an offside position from either half of the field.

Referee Instructor

The offside offense is most definitely NOT committed by the teammate who last kicks/last touches the ball (even if the ball is played toward a player in an offside position).
Rather it is the restricted player (who was in an offside position at the moment the ball was last touched by a teammate) getting involved in active play that is the offense. It is for this reason that assistant referees are instructed to "wait and see" to ensure a restricted player actually gets involved in play prior to raising their flag. This "wait and see" approach is also why so many spectators/commentators believe that an AR is "late" in raising the flag.
Wherever the restricted player gets involved is where the offense occurs and where the restart is taken.
Hence, a player in his attacking half of the field who is in an offside position at the moment the ball is played/touched by a teammate runs to his defensive half of the field and gets involved in active play commits the offside offense and the restart is taken in the offending player's defending half of the field.

chris tubby

Thank you referee instructor. Now I understand. IMHO a much over-complicated law. Fairer and easier to referee I wouod suggest, would be to return to how it used to be. KISS

The treatment of dropped balls is likely to have undesirable consequences. (1) Now a crowd of players could contest any dropped ball, creating potential mayhem. (2) The match official now cannot drop the ball uncontested to a goal-keeper who has just recovered from injury, incurred, say, from colliding with his own player, or from colliding with an opponent in a fair challenge. (As a keeper, I once had a player unintentionally land on me with his knee, breaking one of my ribs off.) If the other team chooses to contest the drop ball, the referee cannot prevent it.

Where does it say in the LOTG who retrieves the ball from the net once a goal is scored.

GA Dowell

Law 18. Common sense. Ball goes out of play over touchline, after touching blue. It is whites throw-in. Ball goes over goal line off of attacking blue team. It's whites goal kick. Blue team scores, it's whites kick-off. Ball always belongs to team who is to perform restart.

You are missing some thing big and it's even if player strikes his teammate while the ball is in play, play is restarted direct free kick or Penalty kick

Chris Orme

A foul can only be committed against an opponent not a team mate...

farshid fereidouni

hi
iam farshid fereidouni .i am referee of iran.i am going to translate the book of laws of the game this book changed and i have questions of that doubtness.i hope you can help me to answer these questions thanks a lot.
Q1] a substitute enters the field of play without the referee'permission and prevents a goal by kicking the ball in his penalty area.what decision should the referee make? what misconduct? yellow card or red card?
Q2]the defender moveingcloser than 2m from the place where the throw-in is to be taken and the ball contact him.
what the reason caution? unsporting behaviour or failing to respect the required distance?[ see 15.2]and [see page 85]
Q3]what means following word [see 12.1] and [see page 81]
foul?
offence?
misconduct?
infringement?

Matt Hesser

Q1: penalty kick, caution for entering without permission, caution for denial of obvious goal-scoring opportunity, send-off for second caution
Q2: failing to respect distance
Q3: I won't pretend to be enough of an expert to give an "official" translation.

Matt Hesser

I've become unclear if the following aspect of the offside offense has changed with the 2016/17 wording of Law 11. If the defender now intentionally attempts to play the ball struck by an attacking player with a negative outcome (poor clearance causing the ball to go in the direction of the attacker in an offside position, or a misjudged header or a foot-first slide play going backward to the attacker in the offside position) is the offside attacker still penalized for being in an offside position? Or does that intentional playing of the ball negate the offside offense? Prior to this year, my understanding was always "controlled and played" by the defender was necessary to negate the offense.

Bill

Far too much confusion on this one still. I agree that a deflection (whether a result of a bad clear or a result of the ball glancing off a defender) does not qualify as a reset of offsides. If Blue team player is offsides and defender intercepts the pass, makes an intentional move and then (for some reason) back passes to goalie, the Blue player who was in offside position CAN play the ball. Do you have a clear answer to what happens when defender flubs the play and it bounces to Blue team player?

Matt Hesser

Sanderson's comment hits the nail on the head. I just finished my recertification course, and the issue was clarified very well. A bad clear is not a deflection. That is an intentionally played ball (while not being a save... 'saves' are always deflections) and therefore the attacker in the offside position received the ball from an opponent, not a teammate, and is not penalized. By 'flub' I assume you mean the defender intentionally makes a play at the ball with a poor reseult (misjudging a header and it goes backward). In that situation, the ball was played to Blue attacker by an opponent, so Blue is not penalized for being in an offside position.

mahder maregn

the good changing lows of the game

George Sanderson

As explained to me recently by a current EPL referee, if a defender makes a deliberate attempt to play the ball - for example, he goes up to head the ball away in his own goal area, under pressure from an attacker, and the ball glances of his head because he is unable to control it, and goes to an attacker in an offside position then that attacker is not penalised for being offside - even though he was in an offside position at the time the ball was kicked by his teammate. The explanation given to me was that this commences a new phase of play and the defender made a deliberate attempt to play the ball as opposed to the situation where a ball is, for example, kicked against a defender and is deflected off him to an opponent in an offside position who would then be given offside.

I think after every game points must be given according to goal difference meaning that a draw means no points.

Robert Bropley

Reply to Hesser: If the original shot was "going into or very close to the goal," the defender's play with "negative outcome" is arguably a "deliberate save," in which case the offside player is precluded from "gaining an advantage by being in that position" and so should be called offside. (Laws of the Game 2016/2017, p. 110).
However, a pass to an attacker in an offside position that is not on its way "into or very close to the goal" becomes fair game if a defender sticks out his foot and contacts the ball on its way by, since in that case the defender's action can't be characterized as a save. That play falls under the part of the instruction that reads, "A player in an offside position receiving a ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage." (p. 78).
There are some good clips at http://www.proreferees.com/news-pro-training-camp--offside-discussions.php. Note that these clips may be from earlier times, so that the referee's decisions on the field may not have been made under the current law. The theme of the discussion was how to deal with each of these situations under the 2015/16 laws, which are very close to the 2016/2015 laws.
The last video clip "Montreal Impact v Houston Dynamo (29.41)" is exactly on point.
See also the video clip entitled "Chicago Fire v Toronto FC (72.35) - Goal: Deliberate play." If you think the header was a "save" you should call the player offside. The PRO training people didn't think it was a save, but they made that judgment using the 2015/2016 rules, before the term "save" was defined.

Michael Clark

I agree with your comments, and you have explained the changes well. It is now up to the officials to decide if an attacking shot was going near, or into, the goalmouth if a defender then "saves" it.

Keith Turner

Can anyone clarify a difference I see between the actual wording of the new laws and the explanation within the changes summary? Near end of Law 12 it says that a foul committed off the field as a normal part of play should restart with a free kick (so presumably either IDFK or DFK/PK) at the nearest point of a touchline or goal line, and simply says if it is for a DFK infraction then it should be a PK (standard). But the changes summary assumes restart is always DFK/PK. Now I don't see many IDFK offenses in this scenario, but out contact or dangerous play. Thoughts?

Keith Turner

Can anyone clarify a difference I see between the actual wording of the new laws and the explanation within the changes summary? Near end of Law 12 it says that a foul committed off the field as a normal part of play should restart with a free kick (so presumably either IDFK or DFK/PK) at the nearest point of a touchline or goal line, and simply says if it is for a DFK infraction then it should be a PK (standard). But the changes summary assumes restart is always DFK/PK. Now I don't see many IDFK offenses in this scenario, but maybe impeding without contact or dangerous play. Thoughts?

Keith Turner

Can anyone clarify a difference I see between the actual wording of the new laws and the explanation within the changes summary? Near end of Law 12 it says that a foul committed off the field as a normal part of play should restart with a free kick (so presumably either IDFK or DFK/PK) at the nearest point of a touchline or goal line, and simply says if it is for a DFK infraction then it should be a PK (standard). But the changes summary assumes restart is always DFK/PK. Maybe IDFK offenses might be unlikely but maybe impeding without contact or dangerous play?

That play falls under the part of the instruction that reads, "A player in an offside position receiving a ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage."I can help guys with getting C0INS for your game really fast! it's posted online here--http://www.u2fifa.com/

Elizabeth Ayres

Playing in a league - the league bylaws say "FIFA rules" the referees yesterday started calling offside in a fashion I have never seen. They said the forward has to be a minimum of 5 YARDS behind the last defender when the ball is kicked. I have NEVER in my life heard this rule. Did FIFA make a change and I missed it?

Keith Turner

No. Can't think of a single law that uses 5 yards for anything, but offside position is being closer to the goal line with any amount of a playable part of the body.

kingsely Oiboh

Hello Sir,
please i will like to know the law that govern the gent ,managers and players.
If a manager that spent alot of funds to put the player on track and he now breach the contract
and return to another lesser country without the prior consent of the manager what is to be done
and what is the rule of game.

Gre

So, how does the AR or other match official make the call for an offside offence on a player in their own (defending) half of the field when he or she is on the offensive side?

Keith Turner

The LOTG don't address such things. That is determined by FIFA and local/regional organization rules.

Keith Turner

GRE, I assume you're asking about when a player is in an offside position in their offensive half when the ball is played by a teammate, then they run back to receive the ball in their defensive half (b/c they can't be in an offside position in their defensive half)? I would stand at h halfway line with flag raised. Once the center blows he whistle, I would run into the defensive half to mark where the restart should occur (though going over the half way line is not normal).